Tameri Guide for Writers
• Resources for writers, editors, teachers, and students
In 2011, the AP Stylebook adopted email, replacing e-mail as the standard. A year earlier, AP accepted the American Copy Editors Society (ACES) recommendation that website replace Web site.
The Tameri website is dedicated to writers, editors, instructors, and students. Our website covers the writing, editing, formatting, and marketing of literary and dramatic works. Academic issues are included, as well. Our site concentrates on content, so expect a lot of text. Because our focus is writing for popular audiences, some suggestions will not apply to academic settings, though we always try to indicate the reasons for our recommendations.
Popular Tameri Article Topics
The following are the most popular sections of the Tameri Guide for Writers. For a complete list of topics, see our site map.
Writing Basics |
Grammar and Mechanics |
Spelling and Usage |
For Writing Instructors |
Manuscript Formatting |
Other Useful Pages |
For Writers First
We are building this site with authors in mind; articles tend to reflect our experiences as professional writers and editors. Some teachers have complained that our choices are not “proper” for their students. It is reasonable for an instructor to remind students that an academic setting is not the same as writing in other contexts. If you are a student, use any grammar and style guides endorsed by your instructors.
Be aware that we post documents as they are written, meaning there are incomplete pages on this site. Also, some pages will have errors as they go through the editing process. If you locate an error, please contact us. Even a text on writing is imperfect.
The truth is that there are grumpy grammar geeks who manage to argue with each other endlessly. We know that battles are waged over split infinitives and sentences ending with prepositions. English rules are relatively new, created by men and women who wanted a “proper” English grammar. The rules one decides to accept are often a matter of preference. We claim no authority other than the “rules” we cite are guidelines encountered while working as writers or editors.
If you want to challenge an editor or instructor, buy a really heavy and impressive book like Bryan A. Garner’s Modern American Usage [Amazon.com]. We also recommend other resources for information. See our list of suggested books for writers and editors.
News and Announcements
• Updates to the Tameri website and other news
- 2011 August 9
- We have expanded the Academic Formatting guides.
- 2011 March 21
- The Stylebook and Word Usage pages have been updated to reflect 2011 AP and MLA suggestions. Also made minor changes to the underlying stylesheets for the website.
We Happen to Be Right Sometimes
Many of the “corrections” we receive are incorrect or matters of personal style. The Modern Language Association, the Associated Press, and other organizations are updated on a regular basis. When there is a conflict between sources, we have to select one as the “right” answer for this guide. That does not mean the guideline we offer via the Tameri Guide for Writers is the only answer.
One source of confusion has been our use of the semicolon (;). A semicolon joins two independent (“main”) clauses. Several visitors have suggested wrongly that such sentences are “run-on” and should be edited. No, the clauses relate closely and we believe using semicolons indicates clearly that the clauses should be thought of together. We also use commas more liberally than many current texts suggest. This might be because instead of misusing commas it is easier to omit them. Most English usage guides are moving towards fewer “mandatory” uses for commas.
If you do have a complex correction or suggestion, it is helpful if you include an academic source for the correction. Also, you should include the Web page URL from the Tameri Guide that needs to be updated.
About the Tameri Web Site
• Of course it started as a marketing gimmick!
Yes, this site promotes our writing and editing services. While we provide the information here for free, we also expect that some people want to hire writers or editors. Our services range from basic editing to advanced technical writing.
We also owe a debt of gratitude to those students and interns who helped with research and page layout over the years: E. Coker, A. Long, N. Goncharova, M. Toledo, and K. Watrus.
We began assembling the information appearing on this website for our personal use. As writers, we often want to double check grammar, usage, and even proper formatting. Using the Web as an organizational tool seemed logical, allowing us to access the information from anywhere.
This website is maintained by S. D. Schnelbach and C. S. Wyatt. If you experience any problems with the site, please let us know by sending a note to webmaster@tameri.com.
Citing This Web Site
Any citation referring to the Tameri website must name both editors.
- APA:
- Schnelbach, S. and Wyatt, C. ( 22 December, 2011 ). Tameri Guide for Writers. [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.tameri.com
- MLA:
- Schnelbach, S. and Wyatt, C. “Tameri Guide for Writers.” 22 December, 2011 . Online. Internet. [Date Printed]. Available WWW: http://www.tameri.com